Subaru

Common Subaru Air Conditioning Problems

June 11, 2020by admin in Blog, Uncategorized tagged Air Conditioning, Cool, Subaru

A wave of heat hits you as you open the door of your Subaru. “No problem” you think, and turn on the air conditioning. Alas! Nothing happens. “What went wrong?” you think. We’ll tell you what!

Your Subaru’s air conditioning has a few main components. The main ones to know are the A/C compressor, A/C condenser, and the hoses. Typically on a Subaru we don’t have to service any of the other parts of the system.

There isn’t any cold air coming from the vents, what’s going on?
Possibility one: low/no refrigerant.
When a customer tells us they are having issues with their air conditioning, we first check to see that there is refrigerant in the system. Subarus’ lose between 3 to 5 percent of the R134a type refrigerant in the system every year. If you haven’t recharged your air conditioning in a few years, you may not have enough refrigerant to cool your Subaru.

Possibility two: the A/C is leaking
Air conditioning refrigerant on a Subaru typically leaks from a couple of different places. The A/C is either leaking from a bad O-Ring that sits where the hoses connect to other parts of the A/C system, or the condenser itself has been damaged. Bad O-Rings can be trickier to find, but usually a condenser can be eliminated quickly because the refrigerant will leak very visibly from the condenser if it has damage damage. If we’re dealing with bad O-Rings, we look for it using a special type of refrigerant with dye in it, and trace it from there.

Possibility three: the A/C compressor has failed
Subaru air compressors usually fail in one of two ways. Either the electronic clutch that engages the compressor has failed, or the bearings inside the compressor have failed. causing the pulley to make loud noises when turning, or to lock up. We replace the entire A/C compressor when either of the two symptoms occur.

Air conditioning is an essential feature to maintain on your beloved Subaru. In the winter, the defrost function makes it safer to drive, and in the summer your air conditioning keeps you cool and comfortable. Servicing the air conditioning system isn’t a major repair, but it should be done by a mechanic as the refrigerant can be dangerous. Using the right belt for your Subaru’s air conditioning is important too, as the older Subarus use an individual belt that runs off the engine, and the newer Subarus use a serpentine belt that runs all of your engine accessories. Whatever year your Subaru is, it should be running like ice!

Timing Belts Versus Chains

May 26, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Maintenance, Soobie Surgeons, Subaru, Timing

The of a Subaru motor with the timing cover removed exposing the timing belt and pulleys — *Subaru timing belt and pulleys – Grant.C*

You may have heard one of the employees at Soobie Surgeons tell you about getting your 105,000 mile service done, or read about it on our website. During that service, one of the key components we service is the timing belt, and the pulleys that go along with it. But what does that mean? What is a timing belt? Isn’t there something called a timing chain too? Why do I need to change it? Here we’ll tell you what the difference is, and why the maintenance is needed.

Timing Belts
A timing belt is a toothed belt that allows the valves inside the engine to open and close at the proper times by running off the crankshaft. When the valves open and close, they allow for air to come in and exhaust to go out of your engine. Timing belts are lightweight, relatively inexpensive and operate quietly. On most cars, including your Subaru, the timing belt has to be replaced after a certain number of miles because they eventually start cracking. On a Subaru, if the timing belt breaks it can damage your engine and require you to get your entire engine rebuilt or replaced. We encourage you to get your timing belt serviced promptly when it reaches the 105,000 mark because not doing so can cause catastrophic damage to your engine.

*Mechanic fitting a new timing belt onto an engine*

Timing Chains
Timing chains look a lot like bicycle chains. They have a number of key differences from timing belts. Timing chains have to be bathed in oil while they operate, are usually noisier than timing belts, and they’re also much heavier than a timing belt. Timing chains require less maintenance, so on a Subaru we don’t usually have to service timing chain cars until well over the 100,000 mile mark. When we replace timing chains, we end up replacing most of the gears that turn them as well, so although they last quite a bit longer they can be more expensive when it comes time to service them. On the plus side, timing chains are often stronger than belts, and we don’t often see them breaking and resulting in engine damage.

The verdict?
Many mechanics, car designers, journalists and hobbyists have made a decision on what they prefer in the timing belt vs. chain debate, but there is no right answer! We tend to prefer timing chains on a Subaru. Even though they are noisier and more expensive to service, we think they ultimately result in a longer lasting, more reliable vehicle. No matter what your Subaru has though, the most important way to keep your soobie’s timing system happy is through appropriately timed servicing – no pun intended!

Why choose us?

May 21, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Small Business, Subaru

Over the past twelve years we’ve fixed literally thousands of Subarus. Our customers keep coming back to us because they know we’re the best shop for their car. But what makes Soobie Surgeons unique? Why should you bring your car here? Why not another shop or the dealership? Give us a moment to tell you why you should bring your Subaru to us, instead of someplace else.

Quality
The hallmark of our business is our quality. When we started the business, we quickly realized that there is clearly a right way to fix a Subaru, and a wrong way. Usually, the right way takes a little bit more time and a lot more skill, but the qualitative difference is tremendous. Over a decade of experience working exclusively on Subarus has allowed us to hone our skills to deliver consistently high quality workmanship without the overhead of a dealership, or the generalized inexperience of other shops. Our dedication to quality is why we proceed with the utmost integrity when fixing our customers’ cars.

Cost
To put is quite simply, we offer the same, or superior quality of workmanship over a dealership and most other shops that are not specialized in one brand. We’re able to offer more affordable car repair than the dealerships and other shops because of our specialization and low overhead. We don’t have a lot full of cars for sale, nor do we have someone working on your Subaru who is inexperienced, and we pass the cost and time savings on to you.

Small Family-Owned Business
Our family loves Subarus, and loves owning a shop that fixes them. Investing in small business is good for the local economy, and strengthens your community through keeping resources local. We offer a high quality essential service at an affordable price because we think everyone deserves a fair deal for excellent work. Supporting small family-owned businesses is a wonderful way for you to show you care about your community, and want to keep it vibrant.

Your best interest
Bringing your Subaru to us isn’t like bringing it to a dealership or another shop. At other shops and dealerships, you are just another number in a spreadsheet. Here at Soobie Surgeons, you’re part of a loyal base of our customers we’ve been cultivating for over a decade. Why do we have your best interest at heart? Because every car that we fix for our customers keeps our customers on the road. Subarus consistently stay on the road longer than any other car, and having the opportunity to fix them the right way keeps them on the road longer. Rather than you having to buy a new car more frequently, we can keep servicing your Subaru with care.

Why should you choose us? Because we love what we do!

Boundary Waters? Subaru Road Trip!

May 19, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Explore, Subaru, Travel

*Boundary waters canoe area on the boarder of Ontario – pc Knowltp*

What better way to enjoy the warm weather in Minnesota than to head up to the boundary waters? And what better vehicle to head up there in than a Subaru? Whether you’re rocking an Outback or a Forester, all that cabin space makes it easy to pack all the essentials. It’s good to have the all wheel drive on those gravel roads too!

How does your AWD work?

May 15, 2020by admin in Blog tagged All wheel drive, Differential, Driveshaft, Subaru, Transmission

What makes a Subaru a Subaru? Well, the all wheel drive of course! Among many other unique features and a growing subculture, Subaru has made their name by offering standard all wheel drive on every vehicle except the BRZ. But how does it work?

In order to bring power to the rear wheels, a shaft runs from the Subaru transmission to a differential at the rear. The differential acts like its own mini transmission, with gears inside it that route power from the shaft to the wheels.

Aerial view of a rear differential showing the main drive shaft running into the differential and both axles coming out of the differential to power the wheels. — *Drive shaft running to a rear differential*

Some Subarus, and many other off-road or performance vehicles come equipped with a limited-slip differential or LSD. Limited-slip differentials allow power to transfer between the rear wheels, allowing for one wheel to gain more traction if the other slips or gets stuck. This results in better handling and more traction.

Cross section of the mechanical gearing of a limited-slip differential — *Limited slip differential – Photo credit Aconcagua*

Subaru Goes Electric, Again?

May 12, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Crosstrek, Electric, Hybrid, Subaru, Technology

Renewable energy has been surging in recent years (pun intended). Although the cost of oil has been dropping, consumers have been increasingly interested in renewable options, and the technology has been steadily catching up. Subaru tried to capitalize on the increased interest in electric vehicles when they first released the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid back in 2014. Unfortunately, the 2014 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid didn’t catch on that well. It’s small battery pack borrowed from Toyota served only to boost city driving mileage to that of highway driving, resulting in a car that didn’t save drivers that much fuel, and cost a lot more than the non-hybrid variant of the Crosstrek. Plus, like all hybrids, the battery pack was doomed to fail after 8-10 years.

Flash forward to 2020 and renewable energy has jumped forward by six years. Electric cars are as popular as ever. Tesla’s rapid growth over the last decade with its Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles has proven that consumers want an electric car. So, as the rest of the car world orients itself towards electric vehicles, Subaru finds itself playing catch up. Luckily for Subaru, the fact that Toyota owns an increasingly large portion of the company means they don’t have to reinvent the wheel (or battery).

So what will Subaru’s new hybrid look like? Just like in 2014, Subaru has decided to pursue the Subaru Crosstrek as their main reentry into the hybrid market. Its a decision based in consumer science, as the crossover market has continued to grow while sedans, coupes and hatchbacks have seen slower growth over recent years. Like before, the Crosstrek will retain its symmetrical all wheel drive and boxer engine design by placing the batteries in the rear of the vehicle. We’re still not that impressed with its performance, but its a step in the right direction.

Subaru claims the new plug-in hybrid Crosstrek will get about 90 MPGe and a range of 480 miles. Break that down into real world numbers and you get a car that gets roughly 36 miles per gallon – not that much better than the non hybrid! The hybrid Crosstrek costs quite a lot more than the non hybrid as well, with prices starting at $35,000 as opposed to the non hybrid Crosstrek’s affordable starting price of $22,000, nearly a 13,000 dollar jump for 3 miles per gallon more. Similar plug-in hybrids start out at higher MPGes ranging from the low to mid 100s, and although they don’t always offer all wheel drive, they offer a much better financial value.

While Subaru has done an excellent job for itself marketing to outdoor types and urban professionals, the new Subaru Crosstrek hybrid seems to miss the mark once again. In their defense, the first year of a new technology for an automotive company is usually a large scale consumer test. Subaru built off the failures of the Subaru Tribeca and the Ascent came flying off the dealership lots, but we’re afraid Subaru didn’t learn their lesson in 2014. Regardless of how the new plug-in hybrid Crosstrek performs, Subaru will be pushed to create more electric vehicles as emissions controls become more stringent. And who knows? Perhaps Subaru will improve on its hybrid technology and introduce it throughout its entire lineup. For now, we’re waiting to see what they come up with when the first plug-in hybrid Crosstreks start rolling off the dealership lots this year.

Subaru Road Trip Checklist

May 11, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Checklist, roadtrip, Subaru

The snow has melted and the leaves are sprouting. That can only mean one thing: road trip! But what about your car? Follow our tips before you hit the road.

1. Check to see when you last had an oil change, and then check your oil level before you leave, and periodically on the road.

Woman's hand pulling dipstick from engine. — *Pull out your dipstick, wipe it, insert and pull again to check the level*

2. Make sure your coolant is full, and check it periodically on the road. On a Subaru, we recommend using only the Subaru coolant. We never put in coolant other than coolant from Subaru. It’s cheaper to buy the undiluted coolant and mix it yourself, but if you’re short on time the 50/50 mixture works too.

*Top up your radiator if the coolant is low*

3. Make sure you have enough air in your tires. If its been over four years since you had the tires replaced, you may need to do so even if there is still tread because the rubber will crack. Many people forget to fill their spare tire, so I’d check the tire pressure of that too.

4. Take a look at your records to see when the last time you had your brakes serviced was. When its time to replace the brakes, you’ll hear a loud squealing when you brake, feel the car shudder when you brake, or not be able to stop the car as quickly.

Tire skid marks on the road around a roundabout — *When you hit the brakes, you want to be able to stop as soon as possible!*

5. Make sure all your lights are working: normal lights, brights, turn signals, taillights and brake lights.

6. Make sure you have jumper cables, a jack, some basic tools (wrenches, hammer, screwdriver), a flashlight and some rags in your trunk. It may be helpful to print off some how-to instructions for whoever is driving in case of light maintenance.

*Stow your tools under your trunk cover*

Tacos El Vilsito!

April 29, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Food, Mexico, Mexico City, Subaru, Tacos

We just found out about a cool place in Mexico City called Tacos El Vilsito. They fix cars by day, and turn into a taqueria at night. What do you think? Should we start serving tacos al pastor too? Drop off your Subaru for repair, and pick it up with some hot tacos.

A guide to Subaru audio

April 28, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Audio, Speakers, Stereo, Subaru, Tweeters

A Subaru Audio Overview!

Shop Dog: Louie

April 27, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Dog, Golden Retriever, Puppy, Soobie Surgeons, Subaru

No mechanic is complete without his trusty shop dog. Here’s a photo of one of our pups Louie when he was a youngin a few spring times ago. We asked Louie what was on his mind and he told us he thought it was time you bring your Subaru into us for servicing!

Subaru Gas Saving Tips

April 23, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Environment, Money, Saving, Small Business, Subaru

Your Subaru has a heavy all wheel drive system that keeps you safe and steady year round. However that means your Subaru is carrying some extra weight that lowers your fuel efficiency. Don’t despair! We’ll give you some tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your mile.

Handle of a gasoline pump pumping gas into car.

Keep your Subaru’s tires properly inflated. On most Subarus, proper inflation means somewhere between 29 to 32 PSI. Make sure you take a moment to check what color the caps are on your tire stems. Black caps mean your tires have been filled with air, but green caps denote that your tires are filled with nitrogen and a regular air pump won’t work.
Service your Subaru at the maintenance intervals. Keeping your Subaru running like a top will prevent the engine from consuming more gasoline than it ought to. We list the intervals on our website but a rule of thumb is taking your car in for an inspection every 15,000 miles.
Change air filters regularly. Air filters filter the air that flows into your engine and mixes with the gasoline. If your filter hasn’t been changed in a while, it may be full of debris and your Subaru won’t run as efficiently as it could.
Use the right oil for your model. Most Subarus use 5W-30 or 0W-20. We recommend using only synthetic oil for the most efficient engine operation.

At Soobie Surgeons, we take pride in keeping your vehicle running the best it could be. We always follow careful procedures to maintain your vehicle. Our work helps you save gas, and we sleep better at night knowing we did our part for the planet.

Driving in the rain

April 22, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Driving, Rain, Safety, Subaru

Your Subaru’s all wheel drive provides great traction in the rain, but here are some tips you can follow to be even safer in the spring storms! Next time you’re out in your Forester, Outback, Impreza, Ascent, or Legacy, you can keep yourself safe by following these six simple guidelines.

Six tips for safe driving in bad weather, highlighted lower on the page. — *Photo courtesy of Oregon DOT*

Turn on your windshield wipers – This is a no-brainer, but are your wipers up to snuff? They ought to be replaced on your Subaru every six months.
Turn on your headlights – It’s important to make sure your Subaru’s headlights, low beams and turn signals are all working correctly. Check these out by having someone else work the controls while you stand in front of your car. In inclement weather, having your low beams on will help other drivers to see you.
Turn off your cruise control – Cruise control is a great way to save on gas and do your part for the environment by getting the most miles per gallon you can get in your Subaru. However, during inclement weather its important you stay alert and in full control of your Subaru.
Slow down – Slippery roads make it difficult to stop, even with all wheel drive, so make sure you give yourself extra reaction time by slowing down.
Increase your stopping distance – Like slowing down, increasing the distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you will give you more time to react if the car in front of you starts to slip. Subaru’s eyesight technology on new cars can assist with stopping, but its still important to keep a safe distance, even in normal driving conditions.
Steer clear of standing water – Rain can cause large puddles to form on the road, which will it turn cause you to hydroplane and lose control of your Subaru. Do your best to avoid water on the road, especially because you never know how deep it may be!

As always, Soobie Surgeons can help you make sure everything is working on your Subaru. Your safety and comfort is our priority!

Day Trip at Valley Grove

April 20, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Ascent, Day Trip, Exploring, Forester, Impreza, Outback, Subaru, Travel, WRX

If you’re looking for a short day trip away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, we’d like to recommend checking out Valley Grove. We took our Subaru there last weekend to see the two historic churches.

*Old and new churches built in 1862 and 1894*

Valley Grove Lutheran church disbanded in the 1970’s. The two historic churches are now preserved by the Valley Grove Preservation Society. A gorgeous sweeping restored prairie surrounds the two churches with walking paths throughout. The churches are only an hour away from Minneapolis and Saint Paul, so why not pack a picnic in your Forester, Outback or Impreza and hit the road? You might see us there.

Subaru Highlight: BRZ

April 13, 2020by admin in Blog tagged BRZ, Coupe, Subaru

The Subaru BRZ is the perfect coupe for back country roads, winding scenic highways and late night drives. With a perky 205 horsepower two liter boxer engine, rear wheel drive, and a six speed manual – you can’t go wrong.

White Subaru BRZ sports coupe — *Subaru unveils the newest BRZ*

The Subaru BRZ or “Boxer, Rear-Wheel Drive, Zenith” is one of the newer cars in Subaru’s lineup, yet it stands apart. The rest of the Subarus are ultimate all wheel drive utilitarian all reliable tanks, even the WRX attracts those looking for a fun car for year round driving. But what about the BRZ?

The BRZ is a joint project from Subaru and Toyota. Toyota marketed it first as the Scion FRS, and now the 86 in an homage to the original Toyota AE86. The BRZ is how Subaru markets the coupe, and it includes a few key differences from the 86 including different paint and interior options, revised styling, and a sports equipment package that adds a few nice performance features.

White front fascia of the Subaru BRZ sports coupe — *Subaru BRZ*

The BRZ is the perfect car when the drive is all that matters. We’re big fans.

Who the heck came up with the Subaru anyway?

April 9, 2020by admin in Blog tagged History, Subaru

Subaru was created by a parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). Fuji Heavy Industries is a fairly secretive organization that got its start as part of the Nakajima Aircraft Company. The allies considered the Nakajima Aircraft Company to be too large during their occupation, so it was broken up into smaller companies including Fuji Heavy Industries. FHI started manufacturing scooters under the name “Fuji Sangyo Co” before taking on automobiles.

*Workers assemble aircraft at a Nakajima aircraft factory*

In the early 1950s, FHI’s new CEO Kenji Kita wanted the company to create an automobile. FHI created a subdivision of its company called Subaru to work on their cars. Subaru is the name for the Pleiades star cluster, a personal favorite of Kenji Kita.

The first Subaru, the Subaru 1500 was created when Subaru sourced the engine from a Peugeot 202 and put it into their first sedan. The little sedan only saw about 20 cars come into production, but it proved Subaru was on the right track.

White Subaru 1500 Sedan — *Subaru 1500 at the Subaru Visitor Center*

The first Subaru to use a boxer engine was the Subaru 1000. The successor to the 1500, the Subaru 1000 came about as an attempt by Subaru to differentiate themselves from a lot of other vehicle manufacturers at the time by creating a comfortable sedan without a cramped engine compartment. Their other Subaru, the Subaru 360 had begun selling well in Japan and oversees, but FHI and Subaru wanted to create a car that could compete domestically and internationally with some of its Japanese and American rivals. After reviewing designs from Porsche and the Chevrolet Corvair, Subaru’s first boxer engine came into production.

Cover photo by Juan Iacruz

Staff Profile: Ben

April 8, 2020by admin in Blog tagged Blog, Employee, Forester, Operations, Passion, Small Business, Soobie Surgeons, Subaru

Ben is Soobie Surgeons’ operations manager. He got his first Subaru when he was 18, and the rest is history! Ben is responsible for a lot of the projects that go on behind the scenes at Soobie Surgeons. Some days he pulls engines, other days he works on marketing and business planning. He claims he never has a dull day!

Man leaning against silver Subaru in the middle of a salt flat — *Ben on the Salt Lake City salt flats*

In his spare time, Ben enjoys reading, biking, camping and exploring. He has traveled extensively with his favorite places including Serbia, Sweden and Chile. He currently drives a Subaru Forester, but would also like to own a Legacy 3.6R, an SVX or a BRZ.

When asked why he works at Soobie Surgeons, Ben replied “Everyone who works at Soobie Surgeons loves what they do. I get the chance to work on a really fun team, with extremely passionate and knowledgeable people. I’m passionate about small business, and Soobie Surgeons showcases the integrity and resolve that go behind a business that is around for the long haul. A lot of the work I do directly helps the business to grow, and it has been a satisfying experience seeing more and more satisfied customers come through our doors.”.

A tent mounted to the roof of a Subaru Forester

Subaru Rooftop Tents

March 24, 2020by admin in Article tagged Camping, Forester, Subaru

Subaru Forester Rooftop Tent – Photo Credit: Subaru

Itching to go camping but don’t feel like setting up a tent? Check out this rooftop tent on a Subaru Forester! If you’re interested in putting a rooftop tent on your Subaru, we’d be happy to install one for you.

Mud Season – Time For Struts?

March 10, 2020by admin in Article tagged Ascent, BRZ, Forester, Outback, STI, Subaru, WRX

Muddy Subaru STI

Vroom vroom! It’s getting muddy over here. How are your struts doing? If you’re hearing a lot of noise from the front or rear tire area, you’re bouncing on the road, or your ride is unexpectedly stiff, you might need some new suspension parts. Whether you have a Forester, an Impreza, an Outback, a WRX, Crosstrek, Ascent or even a BRZ, call us today for all your struts, springs, sway bars and axles!